Had to vote Amir. I don't think Ed has reached his ceiling, especially after the way he was showcasing his improved offensive game in the summer league. He could probably be a double-double guy off the bench and is more valuable than Johnson at this point

Well at least this debate should be over by season's end. I personally think Amir will make good this year, but I don't foresee the team giving up on Ed Davis. If Amir plays well perhaps he becomes tradable.

I think this question will be answered by comparing what each player will net the Raptors in return. Unfortuantely, we have absolutely no idea. We'd have to know what each of them would bring back in trade on their own, or as part of a bigger multi-player deal. We're not BC, so we don't know. All we can do is assume.

As far as the players themselves, I was adamant in here last offseason that they were very similar players, who made each other redundant. I still believe that. Neither of them has the size to play C, unless they're going small-ball on the 2nd unit (with Kleiza at PF). Given their ages, the beating Amir has taken during his career (he's only 25 but has 7 years experience in the league), their current skill level and potential, as well as their salary, I'd much rather keep Davis and trade Amir.

However, all the reasons why I'd prefer to keep Davis, are all the very same reasons why any GM would likely prefer him in trade as well. As a trade chip, I would assume that Davis has way more value than Amir, straight-up. The only way I could see Amir being traded, is if his salary ($6M vs $2.2M) is needed to balance the total salaries in a big trade.

Who I'd prefer to be traded: Amir
Who I expect to be traded: Davis --> why I voted for Davis

Will Quincy Acy be an above average backup-quality player? I would place a large wager on no.

Will Ed Davis learn to play within a defensive system and not be lost in rotation like he was all year last season? I hope so but it has yet to be shown he can. Will he eventually start? Maybe, but right now I would bet on no.

Will Amir Johnson ever be more than an above-average backup-quality player? Unlikely in my opinion but I don't think he needs to be anything than what he is currently to justify his contract. Amir does a lot of things relatively well and I am fine with the flexibility his skill sets provide.

Will Andrea Bargnani live up to his "franchise player" label? No, he's not a franchise player. He's primarily a very good offensive weapon that is next impossible to contain. I like him and I like his contract. Whether I believe we should have gotten a better player with the 1st pick is immaterial.

Will Lina Kleiza be a above average backup-quality player? I like his grit, his offensive game, I think he is on a reasonable contract. I am not sure his skill set can be replaced easily at the forward position or if coach Casey will prefer another skill set for his PF-SF if Ross develops quickly.

The one that goes other than Quincy Acy? Whoever BryCo can trade for someone more useful for the team. Quincy Acy has very little to no value until he shows he belongs in this league.

I voted for Acy, and this is why. I think that if (when) we move Jose, Acy will be thrown in as a young prospect so that we get maybe an extra 2 round pick back, or another young player and a pick. While Acy does seem to have nice character, I don't feel he will ever be a top 8-9 rotation player in the NBA, but he will be valuable for 2-3 years till teams figure out he just does not have what it takes.

Gotta agree with Calgary, Hugs and ceez. Whoever will bring back the most in a trade. Having said that Kleiza brings something different to the table, as does Bargs. Amir and Ed are close enough that it doesn't make much difference to the Raps which one goes, so whichever of them can bring back the most.

This all depends on what we get back for the trade. I think it will come down to Ed vs Amir. Bargnani is safe unless we get a star player in return (or a different GM comes here).

I'd rather keep Amir and trade Ed. Amir has the intangibles that I like to see in a role player (plus he can play both the 4 and the 5). I have a feeling Ed is looking more than being a role player and will probably sour at the idea of playing less minutes in the future.. where as Amir appears to be happy just doing what he's doing. I'm going to say Ed because I think he has more value around the league due to his rookie contract.

Acy is going to play the Solomon Alabi role on this team. He won't get any minutes and will be used as a practice dummy and a cheerleader. He's too cheap to give away and not talented enough to get anything of value in return.

Kleiza has a very good contract, and even with Fields here we still need depth at the 3. Plus he'll be JV's translator and defacto best bud for the first year or two.

I think this question will be answered by comparing what each player will net the Raptors in return. Unfortuantely, we have absolutely no idea. We'd have to know what each of them would bring back in trade on their own, or as part of a bigger multi-player deal. We're not BC, so we don't know. All we can do is assume.

As far as the players themselves, I was adamant in here last offseason that they were very similar players, who made each other redundant. I still believe that. Neither of them has the size to play C, unless they're going small-ball on the 2nd unit (with Kleiza at PF). Given their ages, the beating Amir has taken during his career (he's only 25 but has 7 years experience in the league), their current skill level and potential, as well as their salary, I'd much rather keep Davis and trade Amir.

However, all the reasons why I'd prefer to keep Davis, are all the very same reasons why any GM would likely prefer him in trade as well. As a trade chip, I would assume that Davis has way more value than Amir, straight-up. The only way I could see Amir being traded, is if his salary ($6M vs $2.2M) is needed to balance the total salaries in a big trade.

Who I'd prefer to be traded: AmirWho I expect to be traded: Davis --> why I voted for Davis

Our tendency is to wish for the good, and give away the bad - a scenario that doesn't jive with any GM's wishes. As such, I voted Davis as well.

so the 5 votes for ED were people that think he's better but going to be traded? interesting because there were so many people saying amir is better during the year

Actually just for the record, I think Amir is better, and I'd prefer him over Ed on Toronto. I picked Ed because other GM's may value him more than Amir since he's so much more affordable and still has potential.

I voted Davis. I don't see the "potential" everyone keeps talking about. He just happens to be young.

I liked what I saw in the summer league, especially his ability to hit those elbow jumpers and how comfortable he was in the post. I don't think it's time to give up on him just yet. He certainly has more potential than Amir, and along with DeRozan, he's most likely to break out for the Raptors. I bet he could end up being a double double guy off the bench some time soon

There were only 8 players who averaged a points-rebounds double-double last year....and none of them were bench players. I don't see Ed Davis being the first.

Yes, his elbow jumper was noticeably improved compared to last year. But when you go from non-existent, to marginal (against non-NBA competition), things are going to look better than they actually are.

Okay well he averaged nearly 8 and 7 in his rookie year so close enough lol

But you have to admit Ed has a chance to be much better than Amir offensively. Even though the summer league isn't NBA competition (not even close), I love how comfortable he looked posting up, and his ability to draw fouls, and those nice little baby hooks and other moves he was using to score. Amir's post game is non-existent, his jumpshot isn't there either and he'll never be a threat offensively. Ed certainly has potential to put up decent scoring numbers, and he rebounds and block shots at a high rate as well. He's not going to live up to the Chris Bosh comparison that I was hearing in 2009 (obviously lol), but I personally think he has potential to be much better than Amir

Yes, I suppose Davis has a chance to be better, again based on his relative youth, but will he actually live up to those expectations? Who knows, but it's been a somewhat slow ascent so far.

My biggest concern with Davis is that he's still pushed around easily in the blocks. I dunno, he just seems super raw still.

With Amir, what you see is what you get. He's the perfect backup big, capable of providing minutes at either PF or C as needed, you don't need to run plays for him, and his "motor" is never an issue. His shot isn't the greatest either, but the rest of his game seems to be a bit more polished than Davis's (at least at this point in their respective careers).

Yes, I suppose Davis has a chance to be better, again based on his relative youth, but will he actually live up to those expectations? Who knows, but it's been a somewhat slow ascent so far.

My biggest concern with Davis is that he's still pushed around easily in the blocks. I dunno, he just seems super raw still.

With Amir, what you see is what you get. He's the perfect backup big, capable of providing minutes at either PF or C as needed, you don't need to run plays for him, and his "motor" is never an issue. His shot isn't the greatest either, but the rest of his game seems to be a bit more polished than Davis's (at least at this point in their respective careers).

Although my preference is to keep Davis, if Calderon sticks around for at least half the season (and either re-signs for cheaper or comes back next offseason after being traded away at the deadline, to be a veteran backup PG for the following 2 years), he and Amir would have great PnR chemistry on the 2nd unit. You add shooters like Ross & Kleiza, and suddenly that's a pretty decent group of backups!